Some people hit
themselves, or strike themselves with objects as a form of self-harm.
This causes bruising rather than an open wound, and can very often be
explained away as a trip or a fall. Often younger children will throw
themselves to the floor or run into walls causing bruises, and whilst
this is not always recognized as a form of self-harm, many people who
cut or burn themselves will tell you that their self-harm started off as
bruising themselves in this way as children.

Any injury that doesn’t break the surface of the skin will normally
result in a bruise.

Bruises are a discolouration and tenderness of the skin due to leakage
of blood from an injured blood vessel into the surrounding tissues.
Bruises also change colour over a period of time, so it is possible to
tell from the colour of a bruise when the injury occurred.

Initially a bruise is red in colour, changing after one or two days to
purple as the blood in the tissues dries. After a week, the bruise will
change to a yellowish colour and then gradually fade away as the blood
in the tissues is broken down.

Sometimes bruising can be connected to a serious problem however, and
anyone who finds themselves bruising easily should see a doctor.

Please click here
to read the information on how to look after a bruise.